I’ve always been of a mindset that if you are in a rebuilding mode with any team in sports, it would behoove the GM/coach to play their younger guys over the veterans. Sure, the vets will be taking the most reps in training camp and when the regular season starts, but sooner or later, your organization is faced with a question:
When do we play the younger guy?
As I’ve alluded to multiple times, the Bills are rebuilding. Excluding their punter and kicker, they only have five players over the age of 30 (Andra Davis, Corey McIntyre, Fred Jackson, Terrence McGee and Chris Kelsay) under contract for next year. Even being over the age of 30 -a number where everything seems to go downhill (every person over 30 says that) – all five players are starters for the team….for now. You don’t want to be over 30 on a team rebuilding. It’s a check to check proposition. Besides the age factor, you also have to look at when your contract is up. Roscoe Parrish’s deal is up after this season.
Besides McIntyre, some of the players listed may be sitting on the bench at some point during this season….and beyond.
Andra Davis vs Kelvin Sheppard: As far as I am concerned, if Poz returns to the Bills, Sheppard should be starting over Davis. However, starting a rookie LB drafted in the 3rd round is risky business so I can see a 5-game start by Davis, only to then be benched for the rookie. Davis seems to be the closest vet to losing his job to a young upstart. This isn’t a indictment against Davis – I mean, he was alright last year – but coming off a season-ending injury and going into the final year of his contract probably means he’ll be expendable. Also, I think the duo of Poz and Davis are just too much alike. They are north/south pursuers, who really can’t cover backs or tight ends. Sheppard seems to be the more athletic of the two and I think the Bills need some diversity with their inside linebackers. If Poz leaves, then this is all a moot point.
Chris Kelsay vs. anyone: Yeah..I still can’t get over the fact that Chris Kelsay is making 6 million bucks a year. I know we are comparing sports here, but he makes almost as much money as Ryan Miller! What is up with that?! Alright, I know, NFL contracts aren’t guaranteed. Anyways, unless Aaron Maybin really enhanced his productivity while working out in a gym in the Southern Tier and Arthur Moats becomes James Harrison, Kelsay shouldn’t have to worry about losing his job at any point. I am hard on Kelsay, but I just don’t see him as your prototypical outside linebacker. In a 3-4 defense, your OLBs are the keys to getting pressure on the QB, and #90’s 25.5 career sacks aren’t good enough.
Terrence McGee vs Aaron Williams: This is a tough one. When Terrence McGee is healthy, he’s probably the best defensive back on the team. However, the healthy part has been the issue over the last two seasons. McGee has missed 12 games during that time, and I think the wear and tear of being a kick returner during the first 6 years of his career have caught up to him. Besides injury, McGee is battling with the stigma of being overpaid for his production. His salary pays him over 6 million annually. In this day and age with the NFL, 2nd round picks normally get a lot of playing time. Some felt Williams was a steal for the Bills in the 2nd round and with McGee getting up there in age, you gotta think the Bills thought process of drafting him was about finding his heir apparent. I think if McGee goes done with injuries this season, it would be hard for the Bills to take Williams out of the line-up when #24 returns.
Fred Jackson vs CJ Spiller: What?! How can you possibly bench Fred Jackson? Yeah, I’m right there with you. However, when your 1st round pick touches the ball an average of 7 times a game, someone needs to get less reps. The Bills rushing attack was kind of strange last year. In a nut shell: The first part of the season stunk, as the team was ranked towards the bottom in rushing attempts and couldn’t find a way to incorporate all 3 of their running backs (before the Lynch trade). After Lynch was dealt and Spiller was injured, Jackson came on and had over 450 yards in total offense (3 games). As I’ve maintained for a while, I’m not really a big fan of running back by committee. I know a number of NFL teams run that strategy, but there’s kind of yin/yang approach to making it work. You pick your spots when you alternate your running back. It’s not like you say “Fred goes in the 2nd half or CJ Spiller goes in the next drive.” I’d say if the Bills are in a passing situation, you gotta put in Spiller. If they are in a pound it out mode, #22 is your man. The Bills weren’t able to mix the duo effectively enough last year and when you have one running back who is a 1st round pick and another back who is on the wrong side of 30, normally, the coaches will give priority to youth.
Roscoe Parrish vs Donald Jones/David Nelson: If Roscoe Parrish stayed healthy for all of last year, he would have been on pace for 66 catches and 800 yards. He was playing the best football of his career. However, injuries derailed his season which actually brought out the best in Jones and Nelson. Both rookies combined for 48 catches for 566 yards. That may not seem like a lot, but when you consider how both rookies were undrafted draft picks, it’s incredible value. The thing that works against Parrish is how he’s a free agent after next season. It will probably be his last big payday as a NFL player. I just don’t see the Bills re-upping him when Stevie Johnson is an FA and Lee Evans already makes some serious coin. If the Bills know he’s already leaving, maybe it would be better to give more reps to Jones and Nelson. It’s tough, because the Parrish who played 8 games last year is much better than the rookie duo.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
